Episode 308: Return to the Demonic Sect
Heomuguk, who was about to unleash his Thunderbolt Strike, flinched when he saw Ongiseung suddenly open his eyes.
“How is this possible?”
In the next moment, Ongiseung thrust his hand toward Heomuguk, sending a powerful strike his way.
Boom!
The loud explosion echoed, and Heomuguk staggered back a few steps. However, it was Ongiseung who was pushed back nearly twenty steps.
Ongiseung glared at Heomuguk with narrowed eyes.
“What are you doing?”
Heomuguk was still struggling to comprehend the situation. By now, Ongiseung should have been nothing more than a lifeless shell, sealed by the Great Binding Technique. He had even risked involving the Demonic Sect to ensure it.
Yet here he was, awake.
“How on earth?”
The first thought that crossed his mind was that the technique might have failed. Something must have gone wrong, causing this chaos. The lava that erupted from the stairs and the fire demon that consumed the fortress suddenly made sense.
He had seen the demonic spirit residing within Ongiseung before. If the technique had failed and somehow unleashed that spirit, this outcome was plausible.
If not…?
“No, it must be that.”
The possibility that Gu Gangryong had self-destructed while fighting the Demonic Sect was slim. Despite being a master of the highest order, he couldn’t have handled the demonic forces alone.
Having reached a conclusion, Heomuguk spoke with feigned calmness.
“So, you were awake? I came to help after hearing you were in trouble.”
“Is that so?”
Ongiseung’s cold smile was unmistakably mocking, causing Heomuguk to frown in discomfort.
But Ongiseung didn’t erase his sneer and asked bluntly.
“Why did you do it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Why did you lie?”
“What lie?”
Heomuguk tilted his head in feigned confusion, but Ongiseung continued to stare at him with narrowed eyes.
“Why did you lie about me being the one who killed my father?”
”……!”
Heomuguk’s expression hardened noticeably.
“How does he know…?”
He tried to mask his thoughts, pretending not to understand.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Are you going to keep pretending? It doesn’t suit you, Master.”
”…….”
“What are you so afraid of? Of someone like me?”
Ongiseung’s icy sarcasm made Heomuguk’s cheek twitch.
“Arrogant…!”
“Not only did you lie, but you also altered my memories.”
“What?”
Heomuguk’s surprise was genuine. His reaction wasn’t that of someone falsely accused; it was more like, “How did you find out?”
Ongiseung’s sneer grew colder.
“Did you really have to go that far?”
Heomuguk stopped trying to maintain his composure. His face twisted with anger.
“Those incompetent fools of the Demonic Sect! Not only did they fail the technique, but they also restored his memories? How pathetic!”
In truth, it was Jeong Ryugwang, brought by Sabigang, who restored Ongiseung’s memories, but Heomuguk was unaware of this.
Regardless, Heomuguk found himself in a difficult situation. If he used the Thunderbolt Strike now, he might end up being the one defeated. Even Ongiseung likely didn’t realize how powerful the demonic spirit within him was.
But Heomuguk had seen it. The demonic spirit was terrifyingly powerful, exuding an overwhelming presence that made one’s knees weak just by facing it.
“It was Master who killed my father.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
When Heomuguk feigned ignorance, Ongiseung chuckled and continued.
“Let me ask you one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Right after I killed Master, the Blood Sect warriors stormed in as if they were waiting. Was it…?”
Ongiseung squinted, staring intently at Heomuguk.
Heomuguk didn’t avoid his gaze. He realized there was no point in hiding the truth any longer.
“Was it you who ordered my father’s death, Master?”
Heomuguk furrowed his brow and remained silent for a long time.
A cold wind swept between them, scattering dry leaves.
Finally, Heomuguk’s lips, which seemed forever sealed, parted.
“Yes.”
”……!”
Ongiseung’s eyes widened. He had suspected, even known, but hearing it from the Master’s mouth was different. It felt like his blood was flowing backward.
“Why?”
Ongiseung spat out the question, and Heomuguk sighed lightly before answering.
“Since you’ve regained your memories, I’ll tell you. I wanted to confirm the true nature of the innate demonic spirit within you.”
“For such a trivial reason!”
“A trivial reason? For a martial artist, risking one’s life for a secret manual or a divine weapon is common. So wouldn’t you want to do anything to obtain an innate demonic spirit?”
“How did you plan to obtain it… and why didn’t you?”
“It wasn’t that I didn’t; I couldn’t.”
“Why? You even altered my childhood memories with your sorcery.”
“When I tried to seize the innate demonic spirit, it appeared.”
”……!”
“The demon within you glared at me like a child. That alone was enough. How could I not be terrified? From then on, my goal was singular: to obtain the innate demonic spirit by any means.”
“Did my brother know about this?”
“If he did, he would have tried to kill me.”
“So you used him.”
“In this world, it’s either use or be used.”
“Then why tell me the truth now?”
“There are two reasons. First, since you know your memories were altered, there’s no point in making excuses.”
“And the other?”
“You can’t kill me. By now, you must realize that if you use the innate demonic spirit, you’ll lose your sanity. You won’t be yourself anymore.”
Heomuguk’s assessment was accurate. Ongiseung had learned the Art of Tranquility to suppress the innate demonic spirit. By erasing his ego and blending into nature, he could maintain control. But if his emotions flared and he became consumed by his ego, the demonic spirit would undoubtedly take over.
Eventually, the demonic spirit could fully consume Ongiseung, turning him into a madman.
“Likewise, I can’t kill you. If you face a life-threatening situation, the innate demonic spirit will manifest in some form.”
Heomuguk smiled wryly. He was truly caught in a bind. That’s why he had involved the Demonic Sect to use the Great Binding Technique.
‘Tsk…’
Meanwhile, someone had been silently observing their conversation from the beginning.
‘Master…! You deceived me!’
It was Gu Gangryong, lying in a corner, seemingly lifeless. Though his body was incapacitated by the poison Sabigang had given him, his mind was clear, allowing him to hear every word.
‘Master…!’
Gu Gangryong gritted his teeth inwardly. He wanted to leap up and strike Heomuguk down. But he knew he couldn’t act on impulse.
The only silver lining was that the poison made it easier to control his emotions.
A distant memory surfaced in Gu Gangryong’s mind.
**
“Innate demonic spirit… you say?”
A young Gu Gangryong looked up at Heomuguk, questioning him. Heomuguk had stopped him from pursuing his brother, who had killed their father.
Heomuguk nodded with a troubled expression.
“Yes. A demonic spirit resides within your brother. The power that killed your father and the warriors here comes from that spirit.”
“How could…!”
“If you provoke your brother now, you’ll die too. That’s why I stopped you.”
“Can’t you defeat the demonic spirit, Master?”
“Not at the moment. But there is a way to avenge your father.”
Gu Gangryong looked up, his eyes bloodshot.
“What is it? Tell me!”
“If we can seal the innate demonic spirit, I can destroy it. But…”
Heomuguk continued with a grim expression.
“Your brother might die in the process.”
“He’s no longer my brother. We had different mothers from the start. Now that he’s killed our father, he’s just my enemy!”
“Do you truly wish to avenge your father?”
“Of course!”
“Very well. I’ll help you.”
After that, Gu Gangryong received many benefits from Heomuguk. He was introduced to the best masters and given potent elixirs.
Once, he asked why Heomuguk was so kind to him.
At that moment, Heomuguk replied, “It’s because of the guilt I carry for not being able to protect your father.”
Gu Gangryong believed those words without a shadow of doubt.
Later, when Gu Gangryong became the leader of the Salpungdan, he was given a special mission by Heomuguk: to track down the remnants of the forgotten Demon Sect.
“If they discover Ong Giseung’s existence, they’ll surely try to seal the Sunchunmyeonggi using their great arts. You must exploit this to the fullest and then hand Ong Giseung over to me. If he falls into their hands, he could become even more powerful, and they might start worshipping him. At that point, revenge would be out of reach. So make sure you deliver Ong Giseung to me.”
“Understood!”
With that, Gu Gangryong set off and soon located the remnants of the Demon Sect. During this mission, he deliberately caused a commotion to divert attention and secure some personal time. Apart from the leniency shown by the leader, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
**
“But… was it all just a lie to use me?”
As Gu Gangryong reflected on the past, a surge of anger welled up within him. Just as he was about to leap to his feet, unable to contain himself any longer, a thunderous voice rang out.
“Ong Giseung! Where are you?”
Startled, Heomuguk and Ong Giseung turned to see a man striding confidently from the entrance of the lower fortress. As he stepped inside, he surveyed the surroundings and called out, “Wow… what on earth happened here? Giseung, where are you?”
Though not particularly loud, his voice, imbued with inner strength, resonated clearly in the ears of everyone in the upper fortress.
Meanwhile, Gu Gangryong, still on the ground, couldn’t help but marvel internally. “How did that guy get all the way over there so quickly?”